<h4><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/police-brutality-angers-south-africa-coronavirus-lockdown/" target="_self">Read: South Africans Angered by Police Killings of Black People During Lockdown</a></h4><p>Members of SANDF are reported to have been surveying the mall as part of COVID-19 duties when the argument ensued. The 29 year-old soldier is said to have approached the man and questioned him about not wearing a mask, but a scuffle erupted and a shot was fired into the man's leg.</p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p>SANDF has been under increasing public criticism since the commencement of South Africa's lockdown. <a href="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/africasource/pandemic-policing-south-africas-most-vulnerable-face-a-sharp-increase-in-police-related-brutality/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Soldier troops were deployed </a>into low income, Black dominated areas across the country. Black Twitter was cynical about the deployment considering rampant police brutality. Barely a week after SANDF was deployed, videos<a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/south-africans-are-condemning-police-brutality-coronavirus-in-africa/" target="_self"> of SANDF members assaulting </a>innocent Black public members surged on Twitter and Facebook. These incidences coincided with the #BlackLivesMatter movement where violent clashes between white police forces and African-Americans are captured daily on social media. The exception is that in South Africa policy brutality occurs as black on black violence whilst white bodies are exempt from violent treatment.</p><p>The Presidency delayed responding to rising public outcries until the killings of <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/africa-court-issues-orders-police-abuse-lockdown-200516105512595.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Collins Khoza</a> caught international attention. While the deaths are currently under investigation, President Cyril Ramaphosa issued a public statement emphasising compliance to both the South African Police Force and SANDF. The president's response roused further public anger. </p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
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</script></p><p>The injured 27-year-old man was rushed to hospital while the soldier was arrested and charged with attempted murder. SANDF spokesperson Captain Jaco Theunissen told <em>TimesLIVE</em> the shooting could have been accidental. <strong>President Ramaphosa </strong>announced that <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/ramaphosa-eases-lockdown-level-in-bid-to-boost-economy/">South Africa will officially enter the final level of lockdown</a> on the 20th of September. </p>
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